Vertical venetian blinds



July 31, 1956 w. TuRKowsKl 2,756,815

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLINDS Filed April 20, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet l F. ,lIl

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July 31, 1956 w. 'ruRKowsKl 2,756,815

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INVENToR.

Wm TER 7'0@ Hows/ 1 I f 701e NE X :Arm n f 2 United States Patent VERTICAL VENETIAN BLINDS Walter Turkowski, Hollywood, Ill., assignor to Walter Turkowski and Bernice Turkowski, both of Hollywood,l]l.

Application April 20, 1953, Serial No. 349,600

7 Claims. (Cl. 160-118) My invention relates to improvements in Venetian blind construction.

My invention relates more particularly to Venetian blinds of the type that are adapted to 'oe suspended vertically as contrasted with the type of Venetian blinds which are suspended in a horizontal position.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved vertically suspended Venetian blind of the type which includes a plurality of slats suspended from a support adjacent the top of a window and which may be collapsed against one side or both sides of the window or extended varying amounts from the collapsed condition to a completely extended condition wherein the slats are suspended across the entire width of the window.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind structure of this type that can be installed in or removed from the window opening of a building in a practically instantaneous manner, a structure wherein the individual slats may be easily removed for cleaning and reassembled by housewives or other people not particularly skilled in the handling of Venetian blind ructures.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a Venetian blind structure of the type described manually operable means adjacent the vertical side walls of the window opening for collapsing a group of slats against the side of the window or for extending them across the window.

A further object of the invention is to provide an irnproved Venetian blind structure of the type described which may consist of two separable assemblies capable of being collapsed against both of the vertical side walls of the window or extended and locked together so that the slats of both assemblies may be rotatably adjusted about their axes by a single manipulation.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a Venetian blind structure of the type described an irnproved frame structure which carries the same and which also carries mechanism for collapsing or extending the slats, said structure made of a minimum number of light sheet metal parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vertical Venetian blind structure which includes two sets of slats or shutters and identical mechanism associated with each for controlling the collapsing or extending of the slats, each mechanism being mounted in the side wall of a unitary frame capable of being suspended in the window frame.

The following description will give a more comprehensive understanding of the invention set forth herein and the advantages thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing my vertical Venetian blind structure mounted in a window frame with both sets of slats or shutters collapsed against the side walls of the frame;

Fig. 2 is a similar front elevational viewshowing one side collapsed and the other side extended with the in- Patented July 31, 1956 ICC dividual slats turned on their respective axes to completely exclude light in that portion of the window;`

Fig. 3 is a similar front elevational view showing both sections extended with the slats rotatably adjusted to completely exclude light over the entire window;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing both sets of slats about half extended, with the slats turned to permit the entrance of light between the individual slats;

Fig. 5 is a similar front elevational View showing both sets of slats extended and locked together so that the entire group of suspended slats may be rotated as a unit;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one of the groups of slats, the frame and slat control harness, taken generally on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, with parts broken away to foreshorten the view;

Fig. 7 is a similar vertical sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5 showing the end frame and the mechanism for moving the slat control harness to collapse or extend the slats;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the similar mechanism on the left side of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8-A is a fragmentary plan sectional View taken on the line SeA--S-A of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a plan sectional view above one of the Slat control harnesses, taken generally on the line 9 9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. ll is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 7 showing a modified form of slat collapsing control mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. l1 with parts broken into section to more clearly show other parts;

Fig. 13 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a similar plan sectional View therebelow taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. l2.

In the embodiment of the invention which I lhave chosen to illustrate and described the same, l have shown a Venetian blind unit which generally may comprise an inverted U-shaped frame 10 comprising a top housing 12 and side frame members 14 and 16. A plurality of vertically disposed slats or shutters 18 are mounted in sets, each set being controlled by an upper and lower slat harness 20 and 22.

A Venetian blind unit such as shown is preferably mounted in a window or door opening 24, the U-shaped frame 10 being supported by a pair of brackets 26 suitably fastened to the top wall of the opening 24. Each of the brackets 26 is formed with a hook portion 28 to receive an end of a support bar 30 which extends from both ends of the housing 12. Thus as previously mentioned, the entire U-shaped frame 10 as a unit may be placed in the socket of the bracket 26 or removed therefrom. The lower ends of the U-shaped frame may be rigidly connected to the vertical side walls of the window or door opening by means of a spacer bolt 29 screw-threadedly fastened into the side walls and adapted to be connected by means of a knurled nut 31 to extensions 14a and 16a at the lower ends of the side frame members.

The top housing 12 of the frame may be a U-shaped channel member which has a top wall 32 and vertically depending side walls 34 and 36 extending downwardly suliciently to enclose the upper slat harness 2d) when the slats are in an extended position. The top housing 12 may be connected at its ends by a pair of short U-shaped spacers 38 to theside frame members 14 and 16 respectively. This connection may be made with rivets, welding or in any other suitable manner.

The support bar 30 carries all of the slats 18, the slats 3 being formed at their upper ends with a rectangular opening 4t) to receive the bar 3th and a horizontally disposed ledge 42 to form a shelf in the slats so that easy rotation or sliding movement on the bar 39 is eected.

The Slat harnesses 2t) and Z2, which may be generally similar, may each comprise a pair of spaced parallel arm members 44 and i6 connected at spaced intervals by slat yokes 48. Each of the slat yokes may be generally similar and may comprise a pair of thin blade members spaced apart to receive a slat 18 loosely therebetween. but connected at their ends by welding or otherwise and formed with short extensions t?. The extensions adapted to be received in aligned openings 5'2 in the ends of a U-shaped spring clip member '54 which is riveted or otherwise fastened against the inside wali of both the arm members 44 and do. The extensions 5) are loosely received in the openings 52 so that both vertical rotary or horizontal rotary movement may be obtained in the openings 52, as for example when the slats are being rotated about their longitudinal axes or when they are being collapsed against one of the side frame members. The extended yoke 43 in each of the Slat harnesses is fastened to the end Slat 1d preferably by means of a pair of headed paper fasteners 56 with the prongs of the same extending through suitable openings in both parts of the slat yoke 48 and the Slat 18, the prongs S3 being bent and fastened down on the opposite side of the slat yokes 48.

The end slat yokes 48 adjacent the side frames have a bracket 60 connected thereto which has a medial opening 62 to receive a pin 64 that is carried by a sliding block 66. The block 66 has forwardly extended spaced arm portions 68 which embrace the bracket 6d therebetween.

Each of the blocks 66 is connected in any suitable way to a rack 70 mounted for vertical reciprocation in the side frame member. Thus, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the racks 70 are slidably mounted in the rectangularly shaped frame member 16 upon opposite sides of a iixed pinion 72. The pinion 72 is mounted in a block 73 riveted or otherwise secured between the parallel side walls 16a and 1611 of the side frame 16. The sliding blocks 66 also have the arms 6% extending outwardly between the spaced parallel walls 16a and 16k of the side frame member 16 so that when the racks move up and down they are guided both in the body of the frame member 16 and also between the parallel walls 16a and 16h of the same.

Means for actuating the movement of the racks 7th in opposite directions about the pinion 72 may include a lever 7e which is fastened to the lower rack 70 and has a flat handle portion 72 extending outwardly adjacent the side of the side frame member 16. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the operating lever 74 is confined in a slot 78 formed between a side wall of the frame member 16 and a back wall plate Sti of the same, the slot 78 extending upwardly in the side Wall a suicient distance to limit the movement of the operating lever to a closing position of the slats, as shown in Figs. l and 5.

From the foregoing description it can thus be seen that when it is desired to collapse the slats against the side frame members 14 and 16, raising of the operating lever '74 will pull the end slat 18 and other slats in the slat harness 22 toward the end frame member 16. This movement will also swing the upper slat carrier 2@ and the upper ends of the slats over towards the frame member 16, the upper slat carriers being connected at their end to a similar slidable block 66 connected to the rack 70. Since the ends of the Slat harnesses are fastened to the end slat 1S, the Slat carriers will assume the angular positions along the sides of the slats as shown in Figs. l to 4 in the various positions of the slats.

Suitable blocks S5 at the lower end and 87 at the upper end rigidly connect theside portions of each of the frame members 14 and 16 together.

I have provided means for fastening both groups of slats together for longitudinal rotation as a unit. This means may include a latch member 83 fastened to the outside wall of an arm member 4d and having a notch 9i) to fasten over a pin 92 fastened on the aligned slat harness 22. When it is not desired to utilize the latch S3, as for example when it is desired to collapse both groups of slats, the latch is swung clockwise to lie adjacent the arm member' dei upon a stop 94 on the side of the arm member 14.

ln Figs. ll to l/l. l have shown a modified means for collapsing the slats against the side frame members. This may include a pair of roller supports 10@ and itt?, fastened .nt upper and lower ends of the side frame oer i631 An endless chain Mld may be trained about a pair of roliers M26 and ld mounted for rotation in the roller supports 1.5i@ and 192. The slat harnesses and 22 may be carried by means of the brackets 617 upon hook il@ and 112 that are fastened in the blocks 114iand 116 respectively. The has an opening 113 therethrough to permit assage of one side of the chain 161i. it also has a similar opening 12d in which a lock bushing 127. is mounted, the bushing being a spring member having a screvwthreaded stud 12d capable of pressing against the same to fasten over a portion of the chain 104 to tixedly connect the chain and the block together. The chain Utd is similarly fastened by a loci; bushing 126 and stud 12% in the opening 11S of the block 116 or the opening opposite to the one that the chain is fastened to in the block 1M.

Frith this arrangement, when either of the blocks 1.14 or 116 is moved, the other block will move in a direction to meet the same. Thus, as shown in the drawings, when the block 116 is moved upwardly with the bolt 112 traveling in the slot 159 of the frame 16d, the block 114.- with the bolt Il@ traveling the slot L32 will move downwardly. Since the bolts i12 and Mtl are connected to the slat harnesses 22 and 2d respectively, they will thus carry the slats to a collapsed position in the same manner as the rack and pinion mechanism previously described.

The frame 160, as best shown in Figs. i3 and lli, is shaped to conform to the shape of the movable blocks 114 and 116 and is held in this position by the roller supports 10d and 102, the same being fastened to the frame by means of screw members 134. In addition, the shafts 136 for the rollers 106 and 108 pass through the end wall 162 of the housing and are fastened securely thereto.

From the above and foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a vertically suspended Venetian blind assembly whereby a plurality of spaced slats may be suspended from a support adjacent the top of a window or door opening and may be rotated about their longitudinal axes to either completely close or completely open the slats for light and air. In addition, the group of slats may be collapsed against one of the side walls of the window opening. For most installations it is preferable to have pairs of slats as shown capable of collapsing against both vertical sides of the window opening. However, a single installation may be made wherein the slats are collapsed against only one side wall. Further, I have also provided means for connecting together two groups of slats so that their vertical longitudinal rotation may be controlled by a single means.

I contemplate that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A vertical Venetian blind construction which includes an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be suspended in a window opening, said frame including a top housing and vertically extending side members, a support bar mounted in said top housing and extending beyond the ends of the same, a plurality of slats hung on said bar, a pair of slat harnesses, each of said Slat harnesses havingr spaced yoke members embracing slats, a pair of vertically movable blocks in said side member, eachof said blocks pivotally connected to a slat harness and means for moving said blocks toward each other to collapse said slats against said side member, said means including a rotatable pinion and racks trained on opposite sides of said pinion and connected to said blocks.

2. A vertical Venetian blind construction which includes an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be suspended in a window opening, said frame including a top housing and vertically extending side members, a support bar mounted in said top housing and extending beyond the ends of the same, a plurality of slats hung on said bar, a pair of slat harnesses, each of said slat harnesses having spaced yoke members embracing slats, means for moving said slat harnesses sideways to rotate all of said slats about their axes, a pair of vertically movable blocks in said side member, each of said blocks pivotally connected to a slat harness and means for moving said blocks toward each other to collapse said slats against said side member, said means including a rotatable pinion and racks trained on opposite sides of said pinion and connected to said blocks.

3, A vertical Venetian blind construction which includes an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be suspended in a window opening, said frame including a top housing and vertically extending side members, a support bar mounted in said top housing and extending beyond the ends of the same, a plurality of slats hung on said bar, a pair of slat harnesses, each of said slat harnesses having spaced yoke members embracing slats, means for moving said slat harnesses sideways to rotate all of said slats about their axes, a pair of vertically movable blocks in said side member, each of said blocks pivotally connected to a slat harness and means for moving said blocks toward each other to collapse said slats against said side member, said means including a rotatable pinion and racks trained on opposite sides of said pinion and connected to said blocks, said racks and said pinion mounted in said side member.

4. A vertical Venetian blind construction comprising a U-shaped frame adapted to be hung in a window opening, said frame including a channel-shaped top member, a pair of vertically suspended side members connected thereto, one at each end, a support bar in said top member extending beyond both ends of the same, a pair of sets of spaced slats hung upon said support bar and suspended therefrom, a pair of slidable blocks mounted in each side member, a pair of slat harnesses, each slat harness having spaced yokes through which individual slats are suspended, one slat harness connected to each block, each set of slats adapted to pass through the spaced yokes in each pair of Slat harnesses and means for moving said blocks together to collapse a set of slats against a side member, said means including a pinion mounted in a side member and racks trained on opposite sides of said pinion, each rack connected at its end to a slidable block.

5. A vertical Venetian blind construction comprising a U-shaped frame adapted to be hung in a window opening, said frame including a channel-shaped top member, a pair of vertically suspended side members connected thereto, one at each end, a support bar in said top member extending beyond both ends of the same, a pair of sets of spaced slats hung upon said support bar and suspended therefrom, a pair of slidable blocks mounted in each side member, a pair of slat harnesses, each slat harness having spaced yokes through which individual slats are suspended, one slat harness connected to each block, each set of slats adapted to pass through the spaced yokes in each pair of slat harnesses and means for moving said blocks together to collapse a set of slats against a side member, said means including a pinion mounted in a side member and racks trained on opposite sides of said pinion, each rack connected at its end to a slidable block, said racks guided for reciprocation in a side member. v

6. A vertical Venetian blind construction comprising a U-shaped frame adapted to be hung in a Window opening, said frame including a channel-shaped top member,

a pair of vertically suspended side members connected thereto, one at each end, a support bar in said top member extending beyond both ends of the same, a pair of sets of spaced slats hung upon said support bar and suspended therefrom, a pair of slidable blocks mounted in each side member, a pair of slat harnesses, each slat harness having spaced yokes through which individual slats are suspended, one slat harness connected to each block, each set of slats adapted to pass through the spaced yokes in each pair of slat harnesses and means for moving said blocks together to collapse a set of slats against a side member, said means including a pinion mounted in a side member and racks trained on opposite sides of said pinion, each rack connected at its end to a slidable block, said racks guided for reciprocation in a side member and an operating handle connected to one of said racks.

7. A vertical Venetian blind construction which includes an inverted U-shaped frame adapted to be suspended in a window opening, said frame including a top housing and vertically extending side members, a support bar mounted in said top housing and extending beyond the ends of the same, a plurality of slats hung on said bar spaced at regular intervals from one of the side frame members outwardly and adapted to slide back and forth on said bar, an upper slat harness, a lower slat harness, each harness embracing all of said slats, each of said slat harnesses having spaced yoke members embracing individual slats, the end slat being connected to the end yoke members of both of said slat harnesses, means for moving said slat harnesses sideways to rotate all of said slats about their axes, a pair of vertically movable blocks in said side member, one of said blocks pivotally connected to one end of said upper slat harness, the other of said blocks being pivotally connected to one end of said lower slat harness, and means for moving said blocks toward each other to collapse said slats against said side member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

